[Ducati] Fwd: motoGP 2007 dream tour (the long version)

[mo+omille]

OK... I had to forward this.  Very Ducati relevant.  Very long read.

Pete


Begin forwarded message:

>
>
> ---------------
>
> On Friday June 29th just after 4pm my plans changed.
>
> I had not intended on attending the motoGP.  I learned that I and a  
> group from work would be heading down to Laguna-Seca for a full  
> technology review on how our products at Apple were used in the  
> Dorna production pipeline. We would be touring their onsite  
> facilities and having conversations about opportunities for  
> improvement. This would be a 2 way conversation we would suggest  
> ways to optimize their workflow as well as gathering information  
> about how we could add features to our toolset to make future  
> productions that much easier.
>
> Thursday night I headed down to connect with a group of friends  
> that have rented the same Bed and Breakfast for many years now.  
> Fortunately for me they had room... not the optimal sleeping  
> accommodations but I wasn't going to complain.  Not knowing exactly  
> what to expect but having seen a preliminary schedule of events for  
> friday I was, needless to say, very excited.  We headed down to  
> Bullwackers for dinner. Out on the patio Neil Hodgson was signing  
> autographs promoting his new Corona sponsored Honda... There was  
> much conversation about how he was a world champion and barely  
> anyone was there to see him.
>
> When we came out of Bullwackers there was quite a commotion going  
> on... multiple cops, paddy wagon, lights spinning and a large crowd  
> gathered right in the middle of Cannery Row.  We did a bit of  
> asking around to get the story and the summary is: Thursday morning  
> a bike was missing from a trailer. Thursday evening they see the  
> missing bike on cannery row.  The friends of the owner call the  
> cops to report it stolen. A member of the Ruff Riders jumps on the  
> bike and goes to take off... the friends block his exit to give the  
> cops enough time to arrive.. they find out he is a felon and still  
> has the ignition core in his pocket and a screwdriver to start the  
> bike... OFF to jail he goes. Bike off to the police station to wait  
> for the owner to arrive.
>
> Enough excitement we called it an early one and were off to bed.
>
> We started the day at 8am to pick up our credentials and then head  
> over to the track to connect with the guys from Dorna. I had ridden  
> down to the track so I only had the motorcycle as my means of  
> transportation and the 3 other guys from Apple followed me to the  
> track, well sort of.  Scramp decided to put a little kink in the  
> plan of me guiding my coworkers to the track.  Our first meeting  
> was scheduled for 8:30am and it was close to 8:15 as we arrived at  
> the South Boundary Entrance...
>
> I pull up to the gate with parking pass and credentials displayed  
> and the rent-a-cop working there states "no motorcycles".
> " I am leading these two cars to a business meeting that starts in  
> 15 min" I explain.
> "no motorcycles"
> "we are meeting with the international organization that put this  
> entire event together and YOU are going to make us late, the two  
> cars behind me don't know where they are going and I have been  
> asked to escort them to the meeting."
> "no motorcycles"
>
> This goes on for a few minutes before  I finally let the overly  
> ambitious rent-a-cop have his way and I try to explain the best I  
> can as to where they need to go/be.  I then head off on my 1/2 tour  
> of the northern part of Ford Ord as I now have to take the LONG way  
> in, despite the fact that I am less the 5 min away from the track  
> and could make the lives of those I am leading that much easier.
>
> The path through Fort Ord is a nice ride... but you can hardly  
> enjoy it when you are super frustrated at the previous situation.   
> As I am heading up the hill before the Bridge to the infield I see  
> one of the cars I was leading heading down the hill, they have no  
> clue where they are going, I flag them down and get them to follow  
> me, but there is no sign of the second car.  Too many people  
> directing traffic, and none of them knowing exactly where any of  
> the specific locations are.  So they are forced in to one parking  
> space as I am directed to another location even though we both have  
> the same EXACT parking pass, mine clearly visible in my tank bag,  
> and theirs clearly visible in the windshield.
>
> After parking we head into the paddock to meet at the media center.  
> At this point we are 30 minutes late and get news that our the 5th  
> member of our team was stuck in Chicago over night and won't be in  
> until at least noon.  No worries... we connect with the guys from  
> Dorna and we are off to our first meeting.
>
> We spent the first 1/2 hour or so making introductions and getting  
> an idea of what to expect from the days ahead.  First up is to tour  
> the logistics behind shipping the gear from site to site.   
> Everything from the Dorna side is loaded up into cargo crates and  
> shipped from location to location via a pair of jumbo cargo  
> planes.  The team bikes are also shipped via cargo plane as well  
> and are typically mingled with the other gear Dorna is relocating,  
> this is done to ensure that the whole show is all together.  This  
> was fascinating to us because Dorna runs all the logistics behind  
> the loading and unloading of things and doesn't subcontract this  
> out to some transport company.  This would be a hint at how  
> involved Dorna really is in the entire process.
>
> After chatting for a while with the team we went up to the  
> corkscrew to watch the friday morning practice from 10-11. This  
> gave our host some time to get back to his directing gig and hop  
> behind the console as the practice started. We watched him control  
> the action for a bit and then hopped in a Suburban and we headed up  
> the hill. For the remainder of practice we sat inside the wall near  
> the jib camera which was just fantastic.  We arrived Just as  
> Hofmann was t-boned by Guintoli.  So close to the action, no chain  
> link fence in the way.  We made sure when we headed back down to  
> see some highlights of the crash from various different camera angles.
>
> Toward the end of practice back down to the paddock to tour the  
> control rooms for all the on track cameras.  A total of 96 cameras  
> are in use at any given time. Covering nearly every inch of track  
> and getting a great deal of overlap so we as fans don't miss a  
> single bit of action. (if we do miss something it is most likely  
> because speedtv went to commercial)
>
> breakdown.
> 66 on board (only 4 active at any one time due to a limit to analog  
> bandwidth)
> 20 track
> 4 pit
> 1 crane
> 1 podium
> 1 jib
> 1 helicopter
> 1 paddock
> 1 ground
>
> Their command center for the US consists of 2 rented media trailers  
> that are filled with NTSC equipment for all the on track capture.  
> This includes all on track cameras (minus the roving hand held  
> cameras and the onboard cameras) The content is captured to a  
> digital system where all clips are tagged with metadata to allow  
> for instant access to any element of the race needed for play  
> back.  The best elements from this system, either live or  
> prerecorded, are then converted to PAL and sent to a 3rd trailer  
> where all the feeds are put together for the international feed  
> (the commercial free feed we can only see via http:// 
> www.motogp.com). This is where everything we see comes together..  
> This control room is where the director is calling the show from  
> start to finish. Trailer 4 contains all the controls for the  
> onboard cameras/systems ( more on this later). Trailer 5 is where  
> all the offline editing happens, they make all the tapes for  
> various television stations as well as production of the DVDs and  
> downloads found on the website.  From the time the race ends to the  
> time the DVD is finished is less than 6 hours. Pushed out to DLT  
> and shipped off to the replication facility in order to be on the  
> "shelves" by the wednesday after the race.
>
> Over 12 hours of live material is produced at every venue.   
> Approximately 135 million people watch the races LIVE in 184  
> countries and approximately 300 million see each race.  In 2006  
> nearly 3,600 hours of footage was created for the GP season. 45  
> different broadcasters make this possible and this doesn't included  
> the downloads from the motoGP site.
>
> These numbers are staggering.
>
> This is all possible because Dorna has its own engineering staff of  
> 16 to keep all their gear running for every show.  Minus the rented  
> NTSC systems they have everything else to make the show go.  With  
> the help of technology and hardware companies they have designed  
> hardware and software to fit extremely specific functions.   
> Software development includes metadata tagging, onscreen data  
> visualization, timing/scoring management, advertising air time,  
> team air time, time spent per bike, onboard controls, radio  
> management, scheduling, media management, accreditation services as  
> well as customer relationship management.  Hardware development  
> includes, onboard systems, control room communications, cabling,  
> camera enclosures, wireless camera systems, camera cleaning systems  
> and future technologies.
>
> Just after practice we headed over to the garages to get a tour of  
> their camera systems and  a couple garages to see how they were  
> installed on the bikes.  Our tour started in the camera garage,  
> then proceeded through the Ducati, Honda and Yamaha garages.
>
> The relationships they have built with various technology companies  
> have allowed them to get coverage in amazing ways. Their onboard  
> systems are truly remarkable.  It is entirely self contained and  
> the only connection to the bike is to keep things from wiggling  
> around. No tethering is necessary to the bike's electrical system.  
> All enclosures for the cameras are custom carbon fiber housings  
> that are designed by the staff in spain.
>
> • 4 cameras, 1 front facing with a auto cleaning mechanism, 1 butt  
> camera we are all too familiar with (visions of rossi diggin for  
> gold), one rear facing camera, and a "lipstick" camera that is much  
> more of a micro camera than anything, this camera can be placed  
> anywhere on the bike: foot, brake, clutch, forward facing low or rear.
> • gps module for speed differential calculations
> • lean angle monitor containing 3 micro gyroscopes
> • microphone for on bike sounds as well as audio analysis of the  
> engine noise to approximate RPMs and to give accurate gear indication
> • bluetooth module to allow for rider data such as body temperature  
> heart rate and soon to allow the rider to talk to the garage but  
> not to receive information
> • multiple antennas for both transmitting and receiving
> • high frequency antenna for system control
> • a data box
> • battery power
>
> All that and only 1.2 kilograms (2.6 pounds). All teams must equip  
> their bikes with this equipment but where they put the system is  
> entirely up to them. Dorna engineers work directly with each team  
> to ensure the system can be configured and located on the bike  
> according the the team's desires.
>
> Such amazing technologies to make sure we don't miss a single bit  
> of information.
>
> The walk through the garages made my palms sweat and heart race...  
> These bikes are beautiful.. I was able to snap a few shots in the  
> Ducati and Yamaha garages but the Hondas were pulled apart and they  
> requested us not take pictures.  The mechanics were very open to  
> our desires to fondle the bikes and it made for some moments of  
> elation as we gently squeezed the grips on the various bikes and  
> imagining our selves being in the boots of, Casey, Loris, Nicky,  
> Valentino and Colin.  I had no interest in Dani's bike and I think  
> there are plenty of people that share the same sentiments.  As we  
> were exiting the Honda garage Dani was on the way in, I played the  
> part of a gentleman extended my hand wishing him good luck and  
> continued on our way.  It was time for lunch.
>
> We had lunch in the Dorna tent where a home cooked italian meal was  
> prepared by their traveling catering staff.  Nice and light and the  
> perfect amount of food.
>
> After lunch we headed outside of the front straight into the timing  
> box near the red bull bridge to get an over view of how they keep  
> track of all the information being generated. The second hour of  
> practice was about to start so the timing box would be another  
> great vantage point to see the action. The director of timing and  
> scoring showed us systems that they had created and explained the  
> various pieces and parts. He talked through the fail safes they had  
> designed into the systems and how it was both a visual as well as a  
> transponder based system to ensure accuracy. He also talked through  
> how all the information was sent back to Barcelona so that the  
> website could be kept up to date with all the latest scores.
>
> We then headed off to have a couple hour conversation with the  
> heads of various aspects of their production.
>
> When the production meeting was over it was nearly 4pm and our main  
> host quickly grabbed me and the only other Apple guy that had a  
> prior interest in the GP racing world... we didn't know where he  
> was taking us... Into the media center for a press conference.
>
> A press conference with some of the previous US worldGP  
> champions... Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson, Kenny Roberts, Freddy  
> Spencer, Kevin Schwantz.   The interviews were conducted by the  
> british announcer of the motoGP who's name I cannot remember at the  
> moment.  It was very interesting to hear the conversations about  
> the sport and where it is going... many of the champions agreed  
> that the http://www.redbullrookiescup.com/ would do wonders for the  
> sport and help get some more talent in the sport.
>
> After the press conference ended we headed back to the Dorna Office  
> to see what the plan would be for saturday.  We made our plans and  
> started to head off as our host handed us the keys to a few of the  
> pit scooters and asked if we wanted to go out for a few laps.  UH  
> YEAH!!! Being the only one of our group that had been on the track  
> before and the most enthusiastic about motorcycles the put me in  
> the lead.  The scooters maxed out at about 40mph downhill with a  
> stiff wind so it was slow going, but nonetheless an absolute hoot.   
> Full throttle through the corkscrew... who knew it was possible.   
> HAH. this was just a taste of what was to come.
>
> Dinner plans for 15 quickly turned to 18 for our Bay Area VFR  
> owners group and the place in pacific grove was able to accommodate  
> with out a hitch. Good food, good friends and good conversations.
>
> After dinner a few of us headed to old town monterey to check out  
> the area that Red Bull had sectioned off for the stunt show. http:// 
> www.chrispfeiffer.com/ was the main attraction.  I must say... it  
> was VERY impressive... remarkable amount of control.  The show  
> ended and we headed to the plaza hotel lounge for some drinks.  An  
> hour or so later it was time to head back to the B&B. We walked out  
> and my roommate headed toward the nearest cab as the door opened I  
> recognized the woman getting out of the cab as he got in.  Pretty  
> trippy.  She said we should connect the next day so I could head up  
> to the Red Bull Energy Center with her and her boyfriend ( who just  
> happens to be a pace car driver for Laguna-Seca).
>
> what a DAY.  Still 2 more to go.
>
>
> Saturday morning I headed over to the track around 8:30 with a  
> couple other guys from the VFR list and upon arriving at the track  
> I headed down to see what the day's schedule consisted of.  There  
> was a meeting scheduled after lunch so we had the morning to roam  
> around.  Two of us headed up to the corkscrew during the morning  
> practice for a bit... walked down past Rainey corner and then all  
> the way over to the turn 5 bridge and into the vendor area. We  
> strolled through the vendor area to see what all was being pimped,  
> crossed over to Ducati island and then headed back to the Dorna  
> tent to connect for our meeting.  After the meeting we had lunch  
> and they made mention of a possible ride in the M5 pace cars. What  
> an amazing car that thing is.
>
> We walked through the garage tents after the Pace Car Ride and  
> managed to spy Valentino as he was heading out to the garage.  As  
> he walked by I extended my hand to shake his as he was prepping for  
> the qualifying session. I wished him much luck and his response was  
> "thank you very much."
>
> Still on a high from being that close to the doctor we headed up to  
> the VIP village to watch qualifying. Not necessarily the best  
> vantage point for the full experience but plenty of plasma screens,  
> food and drink to make up for the lack of incredible views... that  
> was just around the corner.  Qualifying was pretty exciting for the  
> last 10 minutes... hopper kicking and casey pulling it out after  
> time expired. Pretty exciting.
>
> Qualifying ended and we I had planned on meeting my friend and her  
> boyfriend just outside the VIP village.  We connected and they  
> brought me up to the RedBull Energy Center.  It was SWANK. we are  
> talking lounge style environment.. 2 floors, open bar, tons of  
> food, and the hipsters/jetsetters were a plenty, show bikes  
> everywhere, and an UNBELIEVABLE view of the track... Sitting up the  
> hill above turn 1 you could see 80% of the track.. and what you  
> couldn't see was up on the TVs.  I was introduced to Jesse Rooke  
> http://www.rookecustoms.com and I asked him to walk me through the  
> bikes he had on display... there were a bunch of his and a  
> beautiful bike by Roland Sands...  Not big into the custom bikes..  
> but this was SLICK  http://www.rolandsands.com/RSD/assets/ 
> NoRegrets.html
>
> The AMA super sport started just after 4 and I watched the race  
> from up in the energy center... GREAT vantage point... this is the  
> view that the VIPs should have.  Glad to be up there to see the  
> replays of josh hayes going outside in six and sending himself into  
> the gravel... bone head move.
>
> After the AMA races we hung for a bit as the track emptied out and  
> then headed back to the B&B to freshen up for the evening.  That  
> night I met up with the ducati guys and met Jeff Nash. Had dinner  
> at Cibo's and had drinks with some of the laguna seca pace car  
> drivers.  All in all it was another night of great conversations.
>
> Got back pretty late to the B&B.  Tired. Still another day to go.
>
> 7:30am Sunday morning my phone beeps... text message... "how much  
> do you weigh"
>
> LONG LONG PAUSE..... HOLY FUCK I am going on the Duc.
>
> I respond 200#s.   the response back is "in kilos".... 90... meet  
> me at my office at 10am and don't be late.  I am ABSOLUTELY giddy.  
> Giddy as a schoolgirl.
>
> I pack the panniers and the top box knowing that I am heading home  
> after the day is done. At 8:30 I head off to the track to see what  
> awaits... I am extremely excited but still not 100% certain of  
> exactly what is happening.  I am greeted and passed on to another  
> member of the Dorna crew where I am informed that it is the 2UP  
> ride I need to get prepped for.  Sign some papers... a trip through  
> the medical tent for a BP and Heart rate check up.. all is good so  
> it is off to the Alpinestars motorhome for some more briefings.  I  
> need to preface this with the fact that I feel like the lowest man  
> on the totem pole in this room... director michael mann (miami  
> vice), actor kip pardue, actor john hensley, actor giovani ribisi,  
> wes brewer from SanDisk, and this guy alex from LA that does high  
> end home theater installations for celebrities.  I am humbled by  
> just being here.
>
> We all get fitted with the race replica leathers, the supertech  
> boots, a pair of gloves, and an Arai RX7 helmet.  we are set to  
> go.  Randy arrives and gives us a pep talk about how the ride is  
> for us, talks through the signals/communications and a bit about  
> what to expect.  Asks everyone in the motor home our level of  
> comfort and everyone talks about riding experience and talks about  
> how the pillion rider can affect the ride.
>
> He suits up and we walk through the paddock... the crowd parts as  
> we emerge from the paddock tent area and we head through one of the  
> GP privateer garages to the pit lane where the bike is set up.   
> HUGE crowd is gathered... michael jordan, tim allen, david allen  
> greer, greg white, jason lee, and a TON of other people.  I notice  
> a coworker in the crowd and he starts snapping pics (thankfully),   
> I was hoping someone would be out there with a camera, cause I had  
> no room to hide one.  The order was set... michael mann was first,  
> I was second and giovani was after me... after that I didn't try to  
> keep track of the order.  all 7 of us do a dry run on the bike to  
> see what the body language will be, then Randy walks through the  
> crowd for photo ops with the crowd that has gathered.. giovani  
> shares with me how he is freakin out and just ready to GO! John and  
> Kip are of equal excitement and we all share sentiments of how much  
> of a rush this is going to be.
>
> Next Randy Fires up the bike and goes out for a couple laps to  
> scrub the tires.
>
> Go time... They corral us over to the pit wall break that opens up  
> on the the track.. they set up a red "security rope" similar to  
> what you see at any night club, and get michael ready and Randy  
> rolls up and does a Rolling stoppie from about 20 feet out. Michael  
> hops on and they are off for a pair of laps... They come down the  
> front straight and Randy lofts the front wheel in the air and I am  
> signaled that it is time to put the helmet on.  As they come back  
> through turn 11 the second time I do my best to suppress the  
> butterflies that I can feel as I see the bike getting closer.
>
> No time to think about that... concentrate... CONCENTRATE... you  
> are about to go faster around this track on the back of a bike than  
> you will probably ever go by your self....  now GET ON THE BIKE.
>
> Grab the handles, slide the butt back... squeeze the legs and we  
> are off.  Front wheel immediately comes off the ground as we head  
> up the hill under acceleration... quickly settles down and we are  
> quickly gaining speed. Cresting the hill into turn 1 the wheel is  
> coming up as we are starting to lean it over for the second of 22  
> corner (2 laps).  The wheel comes down and we are hard on the  
> brakes for the andretti hairpin. I look through the corner and spot  
> the exit point and head toward 3. Tip it right head toward 4 we are  
> just getting warmed up. The first lap is so Randy can see our  
> comfort level through the corners and allows him to judge how hard  
> he can push it on lap 2.  Heading up the hill into seven I remember  
> how blind the corkscrew really is.  Snap left... wheelie down the  
> corkscrew... settle the front and tip it right for the entry into  
> rainey which is the double apex down hill left....  At this point I  
> can tell the rhythm is great and we are moving synchronously.   
> After turn 10 the front gets a bit light again and we set it up  
> wide for the quick flick in to 11.
>
> Going down the front straight the front gets light... and stays  
> light for what seems like an eternity, the wheel was off the ground  
> the entire length of the grid and I don't think it settled until  
> well past the finish line. Turn one is much smoother this time and  
> with significantly more speed we enter 2... Randy turns his head..  
> gives me the thumbs up and indicates this time it is going to be  
> MUCH faster.  I feel at this point if I were to stick my knee out I  
> would be draggin it...  I strengthen my grip on the bar and we are  
> working together to keep the fluidity of the ride. turn 3, turn  
> 4... front gets light... we are going WAY FAASTER.... Look over his  
> shoulder, keep the rhythm.  HARD on the brakes.. MUCH harder on the  
> brakes going in to turn 5... I can really feel the forces trying to  
> send me into his back crushing him against the tank but I hold  
> strong and my chest doesn't make contact. The bike gets a bit  
> squirrelly under acceleration but quickly Randy has things back  
> under control. We are headed up to 6, 7 and up to 8 for the roller  
> coaster ride down the cork screw... absolutely FLYING through turn  
> 9 again I am close enough that I feel I could just stick my knee  
> out a bit and I would be draggin but I hold position and we rocket  
> toward 10. Coming through 11 for the second time I can feel the  
> back step out a bit and we are heading toward the line I was  
> previously standing in.  As we approach the rope I feel a hand on  
> my left knee to signal I need to tighten my grip on the seat.   
> Rolling stoppie and we are done...  Giovani.. your turn.
>
> WOW....  Unbelievable.  I have A LOT to learn about bike control. I  
> can't wait to come back to laguna with my bike in November.  I  
> revel in the fact that my heart is pumping and I can feel the  
> adrenaline flowing.
>
> I stroll around the pit wall as people crowd around to ask  
> questions... seems as though michael had disappeared and was off to  
> his next big thing.  I see greg white.. he comes over and asks me  
> how the ride was... I am speechless.  I regain my composure and  
> introduce myself... we chat for a bit and I tell him we need him  
> back on the air promoting responsible motorcycling.  I let him know  
> a LOT of people miss his show and he was doing wonderful things for  
> the community.  He asks a few more questions and how I got  
> connected to do this.. I give him the 2 minute elevator speech and  
> he wants to keep in touch.  So I give him the email and we shake  
> hands and he says he will keep in touch.
>
> Giovani is back and is smiling Ear to ear. Not that you can see it  
> under that ENORMOUS mustache he is sporting ( when we were in the  
> motor home he informed me his next role would be einstein, PERFECT,  
> he totally fits the part).  Jason Lee walks over and Giovani and he  
> start chatting about all the excitement.  He introduces me to Jason  
> and I let him know that pro skater turned actor is quite the  
> resume.. he laughs and we have a great few minutes talking about  
> "earl" and the hilarious scenarios of the show.  I chat with a few  
> of the other people hovering around and soon the queue of riders is  
> finished and we head back to the motor home to return to our less  
> than super hero status.
>
> As I step off the pit lane I am greeted by one of the Dorna guys  
> who holds out an encase DVD and says " a gift from dorna" ... my  
> jaw drops... video... of the whole thing?  INCREDIBLE.  if you are  
> reading this and have made it this far in my story I am SURE you  
> have seen the video.  less than 15 minutes after my ride I am  
> holding a PAL formatted DVD of my entire experience.  Am I  
> dreaming... this weekend can't be real... some body pinch me... on  
> second thought DON'T why would I want this weekend to end.
>
> We chat for a bit after changing back into our plebe clothing and  
> Randy addresses each of us individually. He wants to know what we  
> do. I tell him... he informs me that he will be in the US for the  
> next few weeks and his parents live less than 5 miles from Apple...  
> asks if he can come by for lunch one day... UH YEAH... NO problem..  
> he gives me his number and lets me know that he will be gone from  
> wednesday to sunday and to give him a call to let him know which  
> day will work for him to come by. Wednesday it is... I also told  
> him that the Ducati north america office was across the street and  
> I could call my friends there and we could head over after lunch...  
> he says "great, I have never been."
>
> How am I going to unwind from this.
>
> Well no time to think about it... I am next greeted by another  
> member of the Dorna team who adds another credential to my neck  
> hangers and lets me know that I can walk the grid with the press  
> during the "umbrella" stop.  SPLAT...   I thought the VIP status  
> was enough... Now I get to walk the GRID, don't wake up now... keep  
> the dream going...  we head out to the pit wall where the BMW M6  
> rolls up and an Apple coworker hops out and in his best Will Smith  
> impersonation says " I's GOTs to GETs me one of these"
>
> We push up against the pit wall and the bikes roll out of the  
> garage for the tire scrub lap and we wait for them to start rolling  
> in the grid boxes.  As they round turn 11 the pit crews, us and the  
> media are allowed through the wall to see everyone in their zones.   
> I snap a few pics and just walk around a bit to absorb, trying to  
> stay out of the way as much as possible.  Valentino, Nicky, Casey,  
> Hopper, Vermeulen, Marco, Loris, Miguel and Colin.  As I snap a  
> couple shots of Colin he hops of the bike and heads over to hopper  
> there is a friendly exchange and a hug from Colin and the smile on  
> Hopper's face is huge.
>
> The anthem begins.. and the f18s do their fly by and we are  
> escorted to the opposite side of the wall for the start of the  
> race...  The flag comes out, the flag goes away... and the roar of  
> bikes go screaming by us standing at the finish line. As we are  
> heading out of the pits we hear screams from the stands and look up  
> to see hopper sliding across the track and nicky fighting to keep  
> it upright.  we quickly rush up to the suite and watch the replay.   
> From there the race was pretty uneventful, it was really nice not  
> having to listen to the commercials and have the roar of the bikes  
> as they came ripping down the front straight.
>
> It was over 45ish minutes later and we were outside to snap a  
> couple shots of the bikes as they victory wheelied across the line  
> and the GP was over.
>
> After the race we met up with our friends from Dorna to decide on  
> next steps and they felt that it would be good for us to be in  
> Valencia for the final race where they would be testing a 16x9  
> format. For next years GP it will be in 16x9 format. In 2009 will  
> be in HD.
>
> Looks like I have something to look forward to in november...  
> valencia for the first weekend and a keigwin's day for me on the 14th.
>
> I can't wait.
>
>
> Thanks for taking the time to read this... I know I am not the most  
> eloquent writer, so hopefully it wasn't too painful for my faithful  
> readers.
>
> questions, comments... let me know.
>
> I know I am EXTREMELY lucky to be a part of every aspect of the  
> story above, and I am still in awe about the whole thing, a true  
> chance of a lifetime.  I thought my passion for motorcycles was  
> large but this just confirms that it is beyond enormous.
>
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> b.
>